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I am supposed to be upstairs going over C's algebra homework* and then, somehow, doing something about Earth Science. Also I have to get him going on tonight's Vocabulary Workshop & percent problems from Singapore Math.
So I'm supposed to be upstairs.
I'm not upstairs because I've just read this op-ed from Ted Kennedy on how to fix NCLB and when I saw this passage, I couldn't resist bopping over here to post:
[NCLB] doesn't involve parents enough in helping their children succeed.
When I saw this all I could think was: I am so lucky to live in a district where parents are involved every single day in helping their children succeed!
* Have I mentioned I've done every single algebra assignment this school year? Because the chair of the department refuses to give parents the answer key?
I believe I have.
17 comments:
Well I'm glad you're involved with your daughter's homework. Teachers are in debt to parents like you.
Catherine,
I never did figure out how to post on this site, so I always have to leave info in the comments.
I just wanted to let you know that I am a supplemental instructor in the Math for Elementary Teachers class.
This means that I sit through the class and run the study sessions.
Our texbook is Mathematics for Elementary Teachers: A Conceptual Approach by Bennet and Nelson.
I really respect the teacher of this class. I volunteered to do this because I want to observe how she teaches.
But the first set of problems are typical of the ones we complain about: they are very conceptual, but the chapter doesn't teach the math behind the concept. The only thing they have in common is that you are supposed to solve them by: making a picture, guess and check (yes, this is a required strategy), make a table, or work backwards. These are all required strategies under the problems solving requirements in the NCTM standards. It will be interesting to see what the students think of this 'coneptual math'. I'll keep you posted.
Anne Dwyer
First this:
"The stakes are high. At issue is a goal that Democrats have long embraced as a fundamental principle of our party -- opportunity for all Americans."
Then this:
"[NCLB] doesn't involve parents enough in helping their children succeed."
Opportunity for all Americans means you have to be able to teach kids without expecting educational help from their parents at home.
"But the law still needs major changes to bring out the best in all children. The process for rating troubled schools fails to reward incremental progress made by schools struggling to catch up. Its one-size-fits-all approach encourages 'teaching to the test' and discourages innovation in the classroom. We need to encourage local decision makers to use a broader array of information, beyond test scores, to determine which schools need small adjustments and which need extensive reforms."
Darn those pesky tests that check only for an absolute minimum of knowledge and skills. How about all of that "other" knowledge that makes it OK not to know the basics?
Do they ever look at actual test questions? Do they look at the NAEP results and decide that it's OK not to know these things? Do they implicitly assume that there are no fundamental flaws in the system? Just give them more time, more money, and different (authentic?) ways of testing?
In this competition between public schools and kids, the kids lose big time. If kids and parents had a union, maybe they would get a little bit more respect.
If Democrats want more parental involvement, give them choice.
Do they look at the NAEP results and decide that it's OK not to know these things?
Do they ever stop to think: if the kids can't perform on these lousy tests how are they going to hold down a job? Do they think employers are going to pander to different "learning styles" just like the schools do?
I would really like to know the answer. Are they happy just to make any kind of progress? They want opportunity for all Americans, but they think it's OK to have alternative "authentic" testing? Do they live in the city and send their kids to public schools? They should be required to do this. Things would change very quickly.
I recall watching an episode of some now defunct television show where the female V.P. becomes President as a result of a turn of events. Anyway, she ruffles some feathers by not enrolling her children in an exclusive private school like all the other politicians. She insists that they attend a public school much to the dismay of her advisors and the security detail. Her point was that it would be hypocritical not to support the public school system and that this would keep her finger on the pulse of public education because she would have a very personal stake in the matter. I remember thinking, "Wow, that would never happen."
"[NCLB] doesn't involve parents enough in helping their children succeed."
Um, Teddy needs to read KTM to get a true feel of parental involvement.
I remember thinking, "Wow, that would never happen."
Don't you remember Jimmy Carter's daughter, Amy?
"Amy Carter, an 8-year-old when her father, President Jimmy Carter, took office, was sent to Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School here, then to Rose Lees Hardy Middle School. In Teddy Roosevelt's Day
She was the first child of a President to attend public school in the capital since Theodore Roosevelt's 11-year-old son, Quentin, in 1904. Miss Carter refused to be interviewed on the subject."
The above was taken from a New York Times article dated December 13, 1992. The topic was whether or not Chelsea Clinton would follow in Amy's footprints.
For some of us old enough to remember, once upon a time, a first daughter actually did attend the DC Public Schools.
Do you think it might ever happen again?
Hi Anne--- I just sent you an email --if you've got time give me a call and I think we can get you up and running on posts quickly.
Anne - definitely keep us posted. (And I'll try to get this up front.)
Meanwhile I'm reading Karen Pryor's book which tells me that the single worst way to teach is guess and check, which I believe would be considered trial and error by behaviorists.
Actually, I don't know that it is the "single worst" way to teach.
But it may well be the single most inefficient way to teach.
"[NCLB] doesn't involve parents enough in helping their children succeed."
Opportunity for all Americans means you have to be able to teach kids without expecting educational help from their parents at home.
I just got an email from Carolyn saying, and I quote, "Kids with uninvolved parents are just hosed."
I think it's not unthinkable that a president would send their child to a DC public school. DC has a number of more than adequate public elementary schools (Murch is legendary--a tight cabal of moms allegedly runs it with an iron hand). DC school administration is famously chaotic and leaks money like a sieve, but it's after elementary school that many uppper-middle class parents go private or flee to the suburbs. However, DC has nowhere to go but up, and it has a large charter contingent. Plus, there's a biggish scholarship program that sends poor children to private school. There is getting to be real competition in DC.
Amy, I would certainly admire a president who would stand behind public schools in this way. It would be a step in restoring faith in a system that malfunctions on so many levels. I would like to see that happen. I really would.
//I am supposed to be upstairs going over C's algebra homework* and then, somehow, doing something about Earth Science. Also I have to get him going on tonight's Vocabulary Workshop & percent problems from Singapore Math.//
There as point where, as a homeschooling parent I suppose, I being to wonder, why do you put up with school involvment? :)
the single worst way to teach is guess and check
I was subbing at my son's charter school the other day (I taught 7 classes! 5 math & 2 language arts--I was a wreck after that!). A student wanted to use guess and check to solve 30n=360. I finally got to say it: "Guess and check is banned from this classroom as long as I am in it!" We proceeded to solve the equation for n...
DAWN ---- THAT IS HILARIOUS!!!
Actually, I tried to pull Chris out for math class two years ago. It's against state law.
I should say, again, that this teacher is terrific.
Nevertheless, I am still in charge of homework in a way that I shouldn't be.
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